IP Library Granted Patent US 8,751,062
Granted Patent B2
US 8,751,062 · App. 13/043,709 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Providing a charging event for a vehicle battery

Inventor: John Robert Van Wiemeersch (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,751,062
App. No.
13/043,709
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for providing a battery charging event comprises a plurality of operations. An operation is performed for inhibiting a first battery load from drawing electrical current from a battery charging system of a vehicle. An operation is performed for activating ignition circuitry of the vehicle after said inhibiting of the first battery load. An operation is performed for starting the engine after said ignition circuitry activation. An operation is performed for inhibiting a second battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system after said starting of the engine. An operation is performed for causing an output of an alternator of the vehicle to be adjusted dependent upon a present location of the vehicle.

Claims (31)

1. A data processing device configured to carry out operations for a method comprising the steps of:

inhibiting a first battery load from drawing electrical current from a battery charging system of a vehicle;

starting an engine of the vehicle after said inhibiting of the first battery load;

causing an output of an alternator of the vehicle to be maintained above a target idle output after starting the engine;

determining a location of the vehicle; and

causing the engine to operate at an engine speed above a target idle speed in response to determining that the vehicle is at a location determined to be acceptable for operating the engine at a speed above the target idle speed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein inhibiting the first battery load further comprises precluding the first battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system upon activation of ignition circuitry of the vehicle and after said starting of the engine.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

inhibiting a second battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system after starting the engine.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein inhibiting the first battery load includes precluding the first battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system upon activation of ignition circuitry of the vehicle and alter said starting of the engine.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

determining the location of the vehicle includes determining whether the vehicle is parked at an outdoor/open parking structure; and

the outdoor/open parking structure is a location determined to be an acceptable location for operating the engine at an engine speed above the target idle speed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein inhibiting the first battery load includes precluding the first battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system upon activation of ignition circuitry of the vehicle and after said starting of the engine.

7. A data processing device configured to carry out operations for a method comprising the steps of:

inhibiting a first battery load from drawing electrical current from a battery charging system of a vehicle;

starting an engine of the vehicle after said inhibiting of the first battery load;

determining a location of the vehicle, wherein said starting of the engine is performed only if the location of the vehicle is determined to be a location acceptable for allowing said starting of the engine; and

causing an output of an alternator of the vehicle to be maintained above a target idle output after starting the engine.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring a temperature of an exhaust system component of the vehicle; and

causing the engine to turn off in response to determining that the exhaust system component has attained an operating temperature determined to be unacceptable for continued operation of the engine.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining a location of the vehicle;

monitoring a temperature of an exhaust system component of the vehicle; and

causing the engine to turn of in response to determining that the exhaust system component has attained the operating temperature determined to be unacceptable for continued operation of the engine while at the location.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein causing the output of the alternator to be maintained above the target idle output include causing the engine to operate at an engine speed above the target idle speed in response to determining that the vehicle is at a location determined to be acceptable for operating the engine at an engine speed above the target idle speed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

determining the location of the vehicle includes determining whether the vehicle is parked at an outdoor/open parking structure; and

the outdoor/open parking structure is a location determined to be an acceptable location for operating the engine at an engine speed above the target idle speed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein inhibiting the first battery load includes precluding the first battery load from drawing electrical current from the battery charging system upon activation of ignition circuitry of the vehicle and after said starting of the engine.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2011
From: VAN WIEMEERSCH, JOHN ROBERT
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 025924/0598 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110163721A1 · Jul 7, 2011